After the Greek god Hermaphrodite of the ancient Greek Ἑρμαφρόδιτος.

The presence of both male and female germ cells in one individual. A distinction is made between natural hermaphroditism and pathological hermaphroditism. In the first case, the maturation of sex cells (male and female). It occurs simultaneously (functional hermaphroditism) or simultaneously (a functional hermaphroditism). Sometimes with simultaneous maturation self-fertilization can occur, but there is a significant loss of eggs (stonefish). Hermaphroditism is a rare phenomenon, characteristic of hagfish; it occurs among seabasses and sea-basses. Rare among salmonids, carp, pike and perch. Pathological hermaphroditism occurs in all vertebrate groups.